Wireless communication apparatus and method for controlling wireless communication apparatus

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus includes: a first antenna; a second antenna; a variable phase shifting unit that changes a phase of a high frequency signal to be received or transmitted via the first antenna and the second antenna; and a phase-information table storage unit that stores a phase information table in which phase information is associated with each of a plurality of communication terminals as communication partners. When communicating with one communication terminal out of the plurality of communication terminals via the first antenna and the second antenna, the variable phase shifting unit changes a phase of a high frequency signal on the basis of phase information stored in the phase information table in association with the one communication terminal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless communication apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of fixedly-installed communication terminals, the apparatus comprising:
 a first antenna; 
 a second antenna; 
 a variable phase shifting unit that changes a phase of a high frequency signal to be received or transmitted via the first antenna; and 
 a combining unit that combines or distributes a high frequency signal having passed through the variable phase shifting unit and a high frequency signal to be received or transmitted via the second antenna; 
 a storage unit that stores a phase information table in which phase information is associated with each of the plurality of communication terminals as communication partners, the phase information corresponding to maximum reception electrical power levels obtained from a combining characteristic of the combining unit, 
 wherein when communicating with one communication terminal out of the plurality of communication terminals via the first antenna and the second antenna, the variable phase shifting unit changes a phase of a high frequency signal on the basis of phase information stored in the phase information table in association with the one communication terminal. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase information table has information on a plurality of phase values for each of the communication terminals. 
     
     
       3. The wireless communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase information table has information on a phase change width corresponding to each of the communication terminals. 
     
     
       4. A method for controlling a wireless communication apparatus configured to communicate with a plurality of fixedly-installed communication terminals, the apparatus having:
 a first antenna; 
 a second antenna; 
 a variable phase shifting unit that changes a phase of a high frequency signal to be received or transmitted via the first antenna; 
 a combining unit that combines or distributes a high frequency signal having passed through the variable phase shifting unit and a high frequency signal to be received or transmitted via the second antenna; 
 a storage unit that stores a phase information table in which phase information is associated with each of a plurality of communication terminals as communication partners; and 
 a control unit that changes a phase of the variable phase shifting unit, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 changing a phase of the variable phase shifting unit whenever receiving a predetermined signal transmitted by one of the plurality of communication terminals; 
 storing a phase which has been changed by the variable phase shifting unit at a time of receiving the predetermined signal, and reception levels of the signal; and 
 storing into the phase information table, phase information that expresses a phase which has been changed by the variable phase shifting unit at a time when a highest reception level is exhibited from among the stored reception levels, the phase information obtained from a combining characteristic of the combining unit.